Colonel D. Samuel Dotson III joined the Metropolitan Police Department on October 11, 1993. He was selected Chief of Police on December 14, 2012. Prior to being named Chief of Police, he served as the Operations Director for the City of St. Louis.

Colonel Dotson manages the second largest police department in the state of Missouri and is responsible for the Department’s budget, which translates to $173 million annually. He oversees 1,319 sworn officers and 548 civilian employees. As Chief of Police of the second largest city in the state, he is responsible for the public safety of 318,000 residents who live in the City of St. Louis and thousands of visitors who visit the city every year.

Colonel Dotson has served in numerous divisions within the Department, including the Board of Police Commissioners, Office of the Chief, Intelligence Division, Operational Planning and the Fourth, Seventh and Ninth Police Districts

After graduating from the Police Academy, Colonel Dotson was assigned to the Fourth District. In 2001, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. As a Sergeant, he served in the Office of the Chief and the Ninth District.

Colonel Dotson was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in 2007, where he served in the Office of the Chief. In 2008, he was promoted to the rank of Captain. In that role, he served in the Office of the Chief, Seventh District and the Board of Police Commissioners.

Throughout his career with the Department, Colonel Dotson has received several awards, including Chief’s Letter of Commendation, Officer of the Month, and Award of Excellence.

Colonel Dotson holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Fontbonne University and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Management from Webster University. He is also a graduate of the Senior Management Institute for Police and a 1987 graduate of Metro High School.

Colonel Dotson is 44 years old. He resides in the St. Louis Hills Neighborhood.